Bottle crate



Dec. 16, 1924.

A. A. BERNDT BOTTLE CRATE Filed Apri1,5 1924 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec, 16, 1924. 1,519,655

A. A. BERNDT BOTTLE CRATE Filed April 5. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

:u1fN-iren sT-Ares t ARTHUR A.V BERNDT, OF CHICAGQ- ILLINOIS, ASSIGN-OR TO'KURZ BROS. C0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AOORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

' BOTTLE CRATE.

, vApplication fledrApiil 5,

T0 all who t may concern.'

Be itV known that I, ARTHUR A. BiiuND'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in `the county ot oit" Illinois, have invented usetul Improvements in Bottle Crates, which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to bottle-carrying crates, and more especially crates ot the multiple cell type designed to hold Athe bottles in spacedv relation. Among the objects oit the invention are, to provide an improved structure ot bottle separating and spacing strips adapted to accommodate the variations in external diameter ot the bottles which frequently are found in bottles ot' like capacity,

certain new and of to provide improved means for fastening the ends of the spacing and sepa*- rating strips in the side and end walls of the crate so as to secure the strips not only against pulling out but against yielding at their ends with consequent bowing or bending, to provide an improved base or bottom structure, and more especially improved means `tor securing said structure strongly and rigidly to the side and end walls, to proi vide simpliiied and improved means for strongly uniting the several wall Asections of 'the crate, to provide improved meansiior strongly and rigidly uniting the side and end valls at the corners ot' the crate, vide a bottle crate of strong and rigid construction capable ofbeing quickly' assembled during manufacture and well adapted to withstand rough handling and usage without impairment.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will bel apparent to persons skilled in the art as. the saine becomes better understood by reference to -thei'ollowing detailed description, tali-en in connection with theaccompaiiying drawings in which I have illustrated one practical and efficient embodiment of the principle ,of the invention, and wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view taken onthc line 1 1 oi Fig. S in the plane of the upper group of spacing strips;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan .taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, in the plane of the bottom or base member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical' transverse section taken ontlie line 3 3 of Fig.V 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section Cook and State and to pro- 13, 14 andY 15 designate correspondiiigsec- 1924. Serial yNo. 704,316.

through lone cornerIk ot' the crate villustrating the corner joint and fasteningy means;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line-5 5 of'Fig. 1, illustrating theineans 'for anchoring the ends otl the spacing strips;

Fig. Gis an enlarged vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, illustrating the mea-ns 'lor anchoring the bottom or base member and attaching the shoe frame;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig.'6, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryplan View enlarged ot one end of a wire loop and its attacl`iment clip;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation o'l' the crate showing the countersinking of the partition rstrips and base attachment clips; and l Fig. 10'is a crosssection on line`10-10 ot' Fig. 5.

kA crate constructed in accordance with my present invention consists of a. rectangular box-like structure having side and end walls. a reticulated metal bottom or base, one or more. groups of transverse. bottle-separating and ,spacing strips, and a shoe frame or sole attached to the lower edge of the box body below the ,plane of the bottle-supportingbottom member. AIn the drawings 10, 11 `and 12 designate upper, intermediate and. lower sections ofthe side walls of the crate, and

tions of the end walls. 1oy designates'the end members and 17 the side members of a low rectangular shoe trame or sole that consti- .tutes the bottom frame member of 'the complete crate.

The bottom or bottle-supporting wallot the crate preferably takes the forni and structure illustrated in Fig. 2; although it should be understood that, so far as certain other improved structural features'o't` the crate hereinafter described are concerned, any suitable form and structure of bottom may be employed. The structure .herein shown includes a group ot' parallel wire loops preferably disposed crosswise, or between the longitudinal sides. of the crate body or shell as shown, and each comprising parallel longitudinal limbs 18, an integral connecting limb 19 at one end, and a pair of endwise abutting half limbs 20 at the other end. 21 designates as an entirety each of a plurality of connecting and spacing strips for the wire loops, each of which is cut and pressed to shape from a single flat strip ofsheet metal. In the formation of the strips 21, said strips are longitudinally slitted at uniform intervals lengthwise thereof on lines indicated at 22, and the portionsv between and outside of the slits 22 are offset on opposite sides of the plane of the strip, and between said offset portions the wire loopsv are inserted endwise. The assembled structure is then placedin a suitable press, by which the ofi? set portions between the longitudinal limbs of each loop are pressed back into a comlmon plane, thereby securely gripping and rigidly spacing the longitudinal limbs of the loops. The portions of the strips between adjacent wire loops are transversely arched as shown at 23 to afford increased stiffness.

The specific structure of the bottom mem- .ber last described is not claimed herein, since th same forms the subject-matter of a companion application filed by me concurrently herewith, Serial No. 704,317.

The fiat ends of the strips 21 are apertured, as shown at 24 in Fig. 7, and in the formation of the aperture the metal is not excised, but is displaced upwardly forming a tang 25 which enters a kerf 26 previously prepared in the lower edge of the crate section 15. The loop members of the bottom are secured in the side walls of the crate by means of sheet metal clips that are folded and slipped over the transverse members 19 and 2O of the loops andare then pressed together, thereby forming a sleeve or ferrule 27 (Fig. 6) encircling the'members 19 and 2O and a pair of contiguous leaves or wings 28 and 29, which are apertured in the same manner as the ends of the spacing strips 21 prior to folding, thereby forming upwardly and downwardly projecting tangs 3l) and 31 which enter previously. formed kerfs 32 and 33 in the frame sections 12 and 16, respectively. By ,reference to the detail view 8 it'will be seen that the ends of the ferrule 27 are mitered at 27 so as to encircle the elbow bends at the end of the wire loop, and the wings or leaves 28 and 29 are pressed together around the outer sides of theelbows, as shown at 28', so thatl the ferrnle also serves to securely bond together the meeting end sections 2O yof the wire embraced .by the ferrule and prevent them from spreading apart. The shoe frame is attached to the bottom of thelower crate wall section by nails 34 driven from beneath through the members 17 of the shoe frame, the apertures of the spacing strips 21 and into the lower sections 15 of the crate wall, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, and by nails 35 similarly driven through the shoe sections 16, the apertures of the loop-fastening clips and into the menibers 12 of the lower section of the crate wall, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. by reason of this construction, the fangs and 30, 3l

not only facilitate the accurate positioning of the bot-tom member' on the lower section of the crate wall before the shoe frame is applied, but the tangs 30, 31 also serve to center or position the shoe frame before the same is nailed, and the tangs, by direct or indirect abutment against the nails, aord a `much stronger resistance to pulling out strains than would be afforded by the thin metalof the strips and clips alone. In other words, the ends of the intersecting members of the bottom are anchored in the walls with increased strength and security. .l

At spaced intervals above the bottom the crate is equipped with a plurality of spaced groups of cell-forming, or bottle-separating and spacing strips designated as an entirety by 36. These are thin-flat sheet metal strips, the sides of which are bent downwardly or arched at uniform intervals lengthwise thereof, as shown at 37, so as to provide yielding or elastic bearings of the edges of the strips against the circular wall of the bottle. This feature of the strip, however,v is not new with me, being disclosed in Letters Patent to Foreman No. 1,368,221, February 8, 1921; but I have improved the said strip in the direction of increasing its .stiffness in a vertical plane by forming therein longitudinal ribs 38 which extend midway between the downwardly bent or arched portions 37. lThe strips are preferably arranged in alternate overlapping and underlapping relation, after the fashion of ordinary weaving, in the manner also shown in the Foreman patent above-identified. The ends of the spacing and separating strips 36 are secured to and between the sections of the crate body in the manner and by the means shown and described in connection with the bottom strips 21. That is to say, a depending tang 39 is struck downwardly, thereby forming a hole 41 (Fig. 5) through which a'nail Ll2 is driven. The tangs 39, which are preferably curved in cross-section, as shown in Fig.V 10, to afford greater resistance to bending, are driven int-o the wood and reinforce and strengthen the anchorage of the strip in the same manner as the tangs 1 26 and 30 and 31 already described.

The side wall sections 10, 11 and 12 and end wall sections 13, 14 and 15 are rigidly and strongly united at their meeting edges by means of dowel pins or posts t3 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3; two or more such dowels being preferably used on each side. a

The corners of the crates are reinforced and strengthened by means of thin sheet metal angle strips 414.- inserted between the meeting ends of the side and end walls in the manner clearly sho-wn in Fig. 1. The use of such angle strips at the corners of the boav is not new with me,` but I have devised an improved and stronger fastening for the corners, which isshown in detail in Fig. 4 and comprises a nail 45 that `is driven obliquely through the 'meeting'ends of the end and side walls and pierces the angle strip 44. Heretoiore it has been the custom to drive the nails whichunite the walls at the corners in a directiony -parallel with one wall and normal to the other. `Wh`ere this is done, the separating Orparting strain is manifestly either transverse to the nail or parallel with it, and where parallel witlrthe nail the holding power ot thek latter is very light. By driving the nails obliquely in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the outward tendency of either the side or the end wall is in a direction oblique to the nail, and hence the latter secures both walls against separation with substantially equal tenacity.

In order to provide -snug joints at the meeting edges of the several wall sections and of the lower wall section and shoe frame, the upper edges o'f the intermediate and lower wall sections and the lower edge of the lower wall section are countersunk, as shown in Fig. 9, to seat the ends oi the spacing strips 36 and 2l and the wings 28 and`29 ot the attachment clips; the countersink in each case being the thickness of the metal occupying the same.

The end wall sections 13 are equipped with the usual hand holes 46 (Fig. 3).

The described construction provides a very strong, durable and yet light bottle crate capable ot' withstanding` hard knocks and rough usage with minimum liability of deformation or breakage. The described manner and means of anchoring the bottom and spacing strips in and between the wall sections is well adapted to maintain said strips always in a taut condition, free from bending, bowing or other deformation. It may also be noted with reference to spacing and separa-ting strips that they have a limited amount of play at their intersec tions, between the proximate ends of the ribs 38, whereby the bottle cells formed thereby can accommodate considerable variations in the diameters ot' bottles, independently otl the yielding character ot the arched portions 37 of the strips which lie against the bottles.

hile I have herein shown and described an embodiment ot the invention which has been t'ound to satisfactorily effectuate the stated purposes and objects thereof, it is manifest that the speciiic structural details may be varied without altering the essential character o1c the invention. Hence, l reserve such variations and modifications as :tall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

claiml. A bottle crate, comprising walls, a shoe :trame attached to the lower edges of said walls, a bottle-supporting base including a series ot parallel rectangular narrow wire loops, and'attachment clips for said base embracing the end members of said loops and formed with a pair of folded flat wings lying in the joint at the meeting edges of said walls and shoe frame, said wings being formed with integral op-positely extending tangs entering kerts in said meeting edges.

2. A bottle crate, comprising walls, a shoe trame applied to the lower edges of said walls, a bottle-supporting base including a series of parallel rectangular narrow wire loops, attachment clips for said base einbracing the end members or" said loops and 'formed with a pair of' folded flat wings lying in the joint at the meeting edges of said walls and shoe frame, said wings having registering holes and integral oppositely eX- tendingtangs at the outer sides oi said holes entering kert's in said meeting edges, and nails driven through said shoe trame and holes into the lower edges ot' opposed walls of the crate.

3. A bottle crate, comprising side and end walls, a shoe trame attached to the lower edges of said walls, a bottle-supporting base comprising a series of parallel rectangular narrow wire loops andspacing strips transversely intersecting said loops, the ends of said spacing strips lying in the joints yat thel meeting edges ot' one opposed pair oi said walls and shoe fra-me and formed with integral tangs entering kert's in one ot said edges, and attachment clips embracing the end members of said loops and formed with i" a pair of folded flat wings lying in the joint at the meeting edges of the other opposed pair of said walls and shoe frame, said wings being formed with integral oppositely eX- tending tangs entering kerfs in said meeting edges.

4. A bottle crate, comprising side and .end walls, a shoe trame appliedito the lower edges ot' said walls, a bottle-supporting base comprising a series of parallel rect-angular narrow wire loops and spacing strips transversely intersecting and gripping` said loops, the ends of said spacing strips lying in the joints at the meeting edges or said end walls and shoe trame and formed with integral tangs entering kerts in one ot said edges, attachment clips embracing the end members of said loops and formed with a pair ot folded fiat wings lying in the joint at the meeting edges of said side walls and shoe trame, said wings having registering holes and integral oppositely extending tangs at the outer sides oi said holes enteringkerts in said meeting edges, and nails Vdriven through said shoe trame and holes into the lower edges ot said side walls.

5. A. crate bottom, comprising a plurality ot relatively long narrow rectangular wire loops, metal strips rigidly connecting and spacing said loops, and attachment clips ein bracing the transverse end members oil said loops and adapted igor attachment to the walls oi' the crate.

(S. A ci'ate bottom, comprising a plurality of relatively long narrow rectangular wire loops, metal strips rigidly connecting and spacing said loops,`and attachment clips comprisinglierrules embracing the trans- -verse end members ot said loops and fiat folded wings integral with said ferrules adapted to enter joints in the crate walls and apertured for the passage oi nails therethrough.

7. A crate bottom, comprising a plurality of relatively long narrow rectangular wire loops, metal strips rigidly connecting and spacing said loops, and attachment clips lcomprising Alierrnles embracing` the transverse end members of said loops and flat iolded wings integral with said ferrules adapted to enter joints in the crate walls and provided respectively with oppositely extended tangs.

8. A crate bottom, comprising a plurality ot' relatively long narrow rectangular wire c loops, lmetal strips rigidly connecting' and spacing said loops, said strips having' flat ends adapted to enter joints in the walls ot the crate and apertured for the passage ot nails and formed with integral tanpgs, and attachment clips comprisingl ferrules einbracing the transverse end members ot said loops and flat folded wings integral with said ferrules adapted to enter joints in the crate walls and provided with registering` y nail holes and oppositely extended .tangs 9. A crate bottom, comprising a plurality of relatively long narrow rectangular wire loops, lmeans connecting' and spacing' said loops, and attachment clips comprising terrules embracing the transverse end members of said loops and flat folded wings integral c with said 'ferrules adapted to enter joints in the crate walls and provided with reg' istering nail holes, the ends ont said l'errules being niitered to embrace the corner portions oi said loops, and said wings beingl pressedvtogether around the outer sides otz said corner portions. .j

10. A partition strip for bottle crates and Athe like, consisting of a thin' metal strip formed at spaced intervals lengthwise there' of with downwardly bent concave bottle- 12.'A metal partition strip for bottlev crates and the like, consisting` et' a metal strip having` flat end portions adapted to enter joints in opposed walls of the crate, said end portions being' formed with integral tangs adapted to be driven into one ot i said walls.

13. A metal partition strip for bottle crates and the like, consisting of a metal strip having flat and portions adapted to enter joints in opposed walls of the crate, said end portions being formed with integral transversely curved tangs adapted to be driven into one of said walls.

14. A metal partition strip for bottle crates and thelike, consisting of a metal strip having' fiat end portions adapted vto enter joints in opposed walls ot the 'crate` said end portions being' formed withy nail holes and with integral tangs located outwardly of said nail holes adapted. to be, i

driven'into one of said walls.

ARTHUR- A. BERNDT, 

